In 2025, microcredit organizations in Kyrgyzstan issued loans totaling approximately $983 million to more than 1.685 million recipients, according to the latest data released by the National Statistical Committee. Compared to 2024, the number of microloan recipients increased 1.5-fold and the amount of microloans issued grew by almost 32%, reflecting the growing role of microfinance in a
With the financial support from the European Union, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and European Investment Bank (EIB) have supported the construction and commissioning of a new wastewater treatment plant in Uzgen, Kyrgyzstan. The facility, delivered under the “Rehabilitation of Water Supply and Sewerage Systems in Uzgen” project, will provide 10,000 residents
China’s General Administration of Customs has confirmed that Kyrgyz frozen fruit are now allowed for export to China after the registration of local frozen fruit producers with the China Import Food Enterprises Registration (CIFER) system, according to the Kyrgyz Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture and Processing Industry. Importantly, a separate quarantine permit, as for fresh
Concrete pouring has begun for the foundation slab of the future building of a joint Russian-Kyrgyz secondary school in Bishkek, constructed under an intergovernmental agreement between Russia and Kyrgyzstan, according to the Russian Embassy in Bishkek. Russian Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan Sergey Vakunov and Kyrgyzstan’s Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Edil Baisalov attended the
The final decision on removing Kyrgyzstan’s civil aviation from the European Union’s aviation safety blacklist is expected to be made in May 2026. This was announced by Peter Sorensen, Deputy Head of Unit Aviation Safety at the European Commission, during his meeting with Kyrgyzstan’s Prime Minister Adylbek Kasymaliyev in Bishkek on March 25. The meeting
French Alliance in Bishkek is holding the Francophonie Spring in Kyrgyzstan, from 25th March to 12th April 2026. The program includes educational, cultural and entertainment events, dedicated to the diversity and creativity of French language and francophone cultures, according to the Delegation of the European Union to the Kyrgyz Republic. This year’s festival theme is “Women and Francophonie”.
On March 24, a meeting was held between the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic, Zheenbek Kulubaev, and the Secretary General of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), Feridun Hadi Sinirlioğlu, as part of his first visit to Kyrgyzstan following his appointment. During the meeting, the parties held detailed discussions
The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) has proposed a balanced “middle path” strategy that could provide a solid foundation for the modernization of Central Asia’s power sector. This approach would ensure reliable and affordable energy supply, significantly reduce the carbon footprint, and enable a smooth energy transition that benefits the region’s economy and meets climate commitments.
Central Asia Capital, a Bishkek-based private equity fund, in partnership with the Russian Export Center, has launched a political risk insurance program for Russian investments in Kyrgyzstan. According to Central Asia Capital, the new program is aimed at safeguarding investments against political risks, including restrictions on fund transfers, currency inconvertibility, expropriation of assets, trade sanctions,
The European Union and the International alliance for the protection of heritage (ALIPH) have launched 29 cultural heritage projects across Central Asia to safeguard endangered tangible and intangible heritage from the impact of climate change, following a highly successful Call for Projects that elicited 233 applications. This initiative is co-funded for a total of EUR 1.5 million, wherein
In settlements located near former uranium mines, the third phase of a project aimed at minimizing environmental risks, improving emergency preparedness, and strengthening the socio-economic potential of pilot communities has begun. The activities are carried out within the framework of the project “Stakeholder Engagement for Uranium Legacy Remediation in Central Asia. Phase III,” implemented by
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) says it is providing a loan of up to €25 million to support the investment program and working capital needs of RG Brands Group, Central Asia’s leading beverage producer incorporated in Kazakhstan. The loan will help RG Brands to expand its operations in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, and
A full-cycle fish cluster specializing in fish farming, processing and export is currently under construction in the Jalal-Abad region in southern Kyrgyzstan. The large-scale investment project is being implemented by a Kyrgyz company, Salih LLC, according to the Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture, and Processing Industry. The total cost of the project is more than
The Bishkek-based International Business Council (IBC), one of the largest business associations in Kyrgyzstan, has prepared an analytical note analyzing key institutional factors affecting the business environment and investment attraction in the country. According to the report, while Kyrgyzstan’s GDP increased by 11.1% in 2025 compared to the previous year, the quality of the institutional
The Government of Kyrgyzstan has extended the temporary ban on the export of livestock from the country. The extension is for six months and applies to live cattle, horses, sheep, and goats. The move is intended to ensure the country’s food security and stabilize meat prices on the domestic market. The ban does not apply
President Sadyr Japarov has signed a decree introducing a new state payment for all children under three years of age. Payments will begin from July 1, 2026, and will be provided to every child under three years old in Kyrgyzstan, regardless of family income. The payment will amount to 1,200 soms (about $14) every month.
A project to create artificial glaciers is being implemented in the Batken region in southern Kyrgyzstan with the support of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The FAO recently organized an informational event to assess the results of the artificial glacier technology implementation in the region, according to FAO Kyrgyzstan. Representatives
Afghanistan’s trade with Central Asian countries increased significantly in 2025 compared to 2024, with imports rising by 43% and exports growing by 77%, TOLOnews reported citing statistics from the Afghan Ministry of Industry and Commerce. Afghanistan’s imports increased from $1.679 billion in 2024 to $2.399 billion in 2025, while exports rose from $122 million to
Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) President Zou Jiayi recently visited founding AIIB members Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan, conveying her intent to ensure AIIB’s future direction remains grounded in country needs and strong partnerships. These visits, part of a “listening tour” Zou is undertaking since she took office in January, highlighted Central Asia’s position as
Based on recent economic consensus from institutions like the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the European Central Bank (ECB), and the World Economic Forum (WEF) as of early 2026, globalization is not entirely “over,” but it is undergoing a profound structural shift. Economists generally agree that the era of hyperglobalization has stagnated—a trend accelerated by the
